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I need another ASS.

I would like another ASS. I have an all rosewood model SS and I would like to find a trans red flame top with an all rosewood neck. Forgive me for being naive. This is my first post and don't quit understand where this post should go.

I saw one for sale in France at California Music. Does anyone know if these were special runs from EBMM? Do they do "silent one-offs" for specific dealers?

EBMM did short runs of all-rosewood necks in the past, and yes sometimes specific dealers or distributors order their own limited edition run. If you are looking specifically for trans red flame and all rosewood neck, you may be waiting a long time before you find one for sale.

EBMM did short runs of all-rosewood necks in the past, and yes sometimes specific dealers or distributors order their own limited edition run. If you are looking specifically for trans red flame and all rosewood neck, you may be waiting a long time before you find one for sale.

Most manufacturers use Indian or african rosewood" nowadays. Brazilian is another story with the whole VAT and CITIES treaty tax. In order to use brazilian, it apparently had to be cut and harvested before the CiTIES ban or from trees that fell down "naturally" There are horror stories out there of TSA agents seizing musical instruments containing brazilian rosewood for the owners not having proper documentation. Now, most of them have no idea what to look for, but there are always ones out there looking to break b@lls.

That particular one was already sold unfortunately. I wouldn't buy one from outside the states although I do travel to Italy yearly and wouldn't mind traveling back with one. But, prices tend to be higher there due to the import and the euro slowly gaining momentum again.

If you want to buy the guitar you saw, California Music has a good reputation (the owner is a nice guy). Besides, if you buy from the US, it's normally possible to remove the VAT (20 % in France).

Not in my experience. 20% VAT + 4% import duty on the total on the guitar value + shipping cost. Don't assume you'll get away with anything.

In principle all rosewood now needs documentation if being exported (i.e. sold across borders). Seller's responsibility IIRC. I don't know much else about how it's working in practice but I imagine the documents a seller may need from a guitar maker is stuff they've have been doing for years anyway. (You can still travel and carry your guitars, no problem BTW).